Fluid control apparatus



March 19, 1968 R. a. ADAMS ETAL 3,373,760

FLUID CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 INVENTORS RO8ER7' 8. ADAMS THEODORE J. HUSL //V ATTORNEY 3,373,760 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 ice 3,373,760 FLUID CONTROL APPARATUS Robert B. Adams, Bethayres, and Theodore J. Huslin, Philadelphia, Pa.,' assignors to Moore Products Co-, Spring House, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 434,941 11 Claims. (Cl. 137-815) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Fluid flow control apparatus having a fluid interaction chamber with a single outlet smaller than the inlet and with a blunt end at the outlet of the chamber, diverging collecting passageways being provided beyond the chamber with backward vents.

This invention relates to fluid control apparatus and more particularly to a two position diverting valve.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a fluid control apparatus in which a fluid jet is delivered into a fluid interaction chamber, ports being provided on one or both sides of the jet for steering the jet, the chamber having opposite diverging and converting side walls with a discharge opening to which the converging side walls extend.

The chambers heretofore available were limited as to the deflection possible to be attained.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide fluid control apparatus having a fluid interaction chamber and entrance nozzle with improved operating qualities in the chamber and particularly reduction of turbulence and attendant energy loss thereby obtaining increased efliciency and pressure recovery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide fluid control apparatus having a fluid interaction chamber and entrance nozzle in which the chamber is shorter than those heretofore available for a particular discharge deflection.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide fluid control apparatus having a fluid interaction chamber and entrance nozzle in which the chamber, at the delivery end has a transverse delivery end in which the discharge port is located, the chamber permitting a divider therebeyond to be closer to the discharge port.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description-and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of fluid control apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the exit opening of the interaction chamber, taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 3

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a fluid supply pipe is provided extending to a supply section 11 having a passageway 12 for supplying fluid through a nozzle plate 13 having a nozzle opening 14 into a fluid interaction chamber 15. The chamber 15, at opposite sides of the nozzle opening 14 has ports 16 and 17 with supply to determine the positioning of the jet, preferably rectangular in cross section, from the nozzle opening 14.

The interaction chamber 15 has opposite diverging side walls 20 and 21 with straight parallel side walls 22 and 23 extending therefrom to a transverse end wall 24 providing an angle of convergence of at least 180. The chamber 15, also, has spaced parallel top and bottom walls 26 and 27,

The end wall 24, at the center thereof and preferably in longitudinal axial alignment with the center of the nozzle opening 14 has an exit opening 28.

Assuming uniform height of the nozzle opening 14, and chamber 15, if the width of the nozzle opening be taken as w then the length of the chamber 15 from the nozzle plate 13 to the end wall 24 is of the order of 5% w, and the width of the opening 28 is of the order of %w.

The opening 28 (see FIG. 4) preferably has parallel sides 29 for about w, and therebeyonddiverging walls 30 and 31 Which,-with walls 32 and 33 extending to a divider 34, provide delivery passageways 35 and 36. I

The delivery passageways 35 and 36 for the uniform height referred to above, are preferably each of a width about 10% less than the width of the opening 28.

'The provision of the end wall 24 and opening 28, as herein described, permits of a wider angle of disposition of the walls 30 and 31 than would otherwise be feasible.

The walls 30 and 31 therebeyond and offset outwardly therefrom have walls 37 and 38 which, with walls 32 and 33 bound passageways 39 and 40.

The junctions of the passageways 35 and 39 and of the passageways 36 and 40 have backwardly extending diverging vent passageways 41 and 42 which provide for return of fluid to a reservoir (not shown).

The passageways 39 and 40 can be connected to any desired device, such as a fluid actuator or motor. By way of illustration, the passageways 39 and 40 are shown as connected to opposite ends of a cylinder 45 having a piston 46 movable therein with a piston rod 47 extending through one head of the cylinder 45 for providing an actuating movement.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

Fluid under pressure supplied through the pipe 10 and supply section 11 is delivered through the nozzle opening 14 as a rectangular jet into the fluid interaction chamber 15. The pressure conditions at the ports 16 and 17 determine the extent of deflection of the jet from the opening 14. The fluid passes through the chamber 15 and through the exit opening 28, the direction being determined by the pressure conditions at the ports 16 and 17.

With the exit opening 28 narrower than the nozzle opening 14 there is a relatively lower pressure drop across the nozzle opening 14 and a lower velocity inside the chamber 15 is utilized. This lower velocity inside the chamber 15 results in less turbulent flow with higher total energy of the fluid as it leaves the chamber 15.

With lower inlet pressure drop at the nozzle opening 14 there is a higher outlet pressure drop at the opening 28 at which point the fluid stream receives additional acceleration for movement along the passageways 35 and 36. The acceleration is in direction parallel to the axis rather than in a direction of the stream flow, that is at an angle to the axis, and hence this accelerating force tends to straighten out the stream.

It is desired that the stream have the greatest possible deflection in its extreme positions. This permits bringing the divider 34 closer to the exit opening 28 thereby reducing the free travel distance of the unconfined jet with consequent improvement of the efliciency and pressure fluid connections 18 and 19 for pressure fluid or vacuum recovery.

The blunt shaping of the outlet end of the chamber 15 aids in reducing the unbalanced pressures across the 3 stream at the exit opening 28 of the chamber which tend to straighten the jet.

The blunt shaping of the outlet end of the chamber 15 causes any fluid caught against the opposite side to veer ofi? at a more gentle angle with less build up of back pressure in this region.

With the structure as herein disclosed full flow in passageways and 39 or in passageways 36 and can be effected with a back pressure up to 70% of the supply pressure.

When the passageways 39 and 40 are connected to a motor cylinder up to of the supply pressure can be delivered to either end of the cylinder 45 in the locked condition of the piston rod 47 while the pressure at the opposite end is atmospheric.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided for carrying out the objects of the invention.

We claim:

1. Fluid flow control apparatus comprising a fluid interaction chamber having an inlet for directing a jet of fluid into said chamber, and

members for controlling the direction of said jet in said chamber,

said chamber having a single outlet spaced from said inlet of smaller size than said inlet,

said chamber having jet controlling diverging walls and having jet controlling converging walls at the outlet end of said chamber with straight wall portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said outlet with an angle of convergence of at least 2. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which divergent collecting passageways are provided beyond said outlet with a divider separating said passageways.

3. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said collecting passageways each has a backward vent.

4. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which a fiuid pressure responsive member is provided, and

said collecting pasageways are connected to opposite sides of said fluid pressure responsive member. 5. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which a fluid pressure responsive member is provided, and

said collecting passageways are connected to opposite sides of said fluid pressure responsive member.

6. Fluid flow control apparatus comprising a fluid interaction chamber having an inlet for directing a jet of fluid into said chamber,

member for controlling the direction of said jet in said chamber,

said chamber having a discharge end in which a single discharge opening is located with straight wall portions extending outwardly from said discharge opening at said discharge end and having an angle of convergence of at least 180. 7. Fluid flow control apparatus is defined in claim 6 in which divergent collecting passageways are provided beyond said outlet with a divider separating said passageways. 8. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said collecting passageways each has a backward vent. 9. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which a fluid pressure responsive member is provided, and said collecting passageways are connected to opposite sides of said fluid pressure responsive member. 10. Fluid flow control apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which a fluid pressure responsive member is provided, and said collecting passageways are connected to opposite sides of said fluid pressure responsive member. 11. Fluid flow control apparatus comprising a fluid interaction chamber having an inlet for directing a jet of fluid into said chamber, and members for controlling the direction of said jet in said chamber, said chamber having a single outlet spaced from said inlet of smaller size than said inlet, said chamber having jet controlling diverging walls and having jet controlling converging walls at the outlet end of said chamber with straight wall portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said outlet with an angle of convergence of at least 180, the Width of the outlet being of the order of three fourths'of the width of the inlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,124,160 3/1964 Zilberfarb 137-815 3,135,291 6/1964 Kepler et al 137-815 3,187,763 6/1965 Adams 137-815 3,208,462 9/1965 Fox et al. 137-815 3,223,103 12/1965 Trinkler.

3,240,220 3/1966 Jones 137-815 3,282,281 11/1966 Reader 137-815 3,282,297 11/1966 Bauer 137-815 X M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL SCOTT, Assistant Examiner, 

